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American Express offers four personal Delta SkyMiles credit cards and three business cards. Each card offers various benefits for Delta loyalists. But you may wonder how you can share those benefits with others. With some cards, you can allow trusted friends or family to access card member perks by adding authorized users to your account.
In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about adding an authorized user to your American Express Delta SkyMiles card. Then, you'll know which cards allow authorized users to share valuable perks.
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What’s an Authorized User?
An authorized user is someone added to a credit card account by the primary cardholder. They can use the cardholder's credit line if they follow responsible credit habits. In some cases, authorized users also enjoy perks attached to the account.
The primary card member is ultimately responsible for all transactions made on the card. So, it should go without saying that you should only add someone as an authorized user if you completely trust them.
Remember that adding an authorized user will also affect the authorized user's credit. If all payments are made in full and on time, it can boost the additional card member's credit score. However, delinquent payments will affect the primary card member and the authorized user, so proceed cautiously.
To add someone as an authorized user, you will need their personal information, such as name, date of birth, address, and potentially social security number.
If you want to add an additional card member to your Amex Delta credit card account, for example, log into your American Express account, go to “Account Services,” and click “Add Someone to Your Account.”
If you're adding an employee to a small business card, the option will be labeled “Get Additional Employee Cards.“ Alternatively, you can start by trying this link.
Enter the authorized user's information, review the terms and conditions, and then submit your request.
Delta Amex Card Overview
Let's take a quick look at all the Delta cards issued by American Express. This way, you can familiarize yourself with their benefits, annual fees, and more.
| Card Name | Welcome Offer | Key Benefits | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card | Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. | • 2x on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide • 20% back as a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases | $0 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | • 2x miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets • First checked bag free • Priority boarding • No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) • 20% back as a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases • $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in purchases in a year • Up to $100 Delta Stays credit annually • TakeOff 15 benefit for 15% fewer miles required when booking Delta award flights | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card | Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/16/25. | • 2x on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide • 2x on U.S. shipping and on select U.S. advertising (an annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category) • First checked bag free • Priority boarding • No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) • 20% back as a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases • $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 • Up to $150 Delta Stays credit annually • TakeOff 15 benefit for 15% fewer miles required when booking Delta award flights | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | • 3x on Delta purchases and at hotels • 2x at restaurants worldwide & U.S. supermarkets • Annual companion certificate • First checked bag free • Priority boarding • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year • Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases • No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) • 20% back as a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases • Up to $120 Resy credit annually • Up to $120 Rideshare credit annually • Up to $150 Delta Stays credit annually • Complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status • TakeOff 15 benefit for 15% fewer miles required when booking Delta award flights • Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. | $350 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card | Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/16/25. | • 3x on Delta purchases and at hotels • 1.5x on purchases of $5,000 or more • 1.5x on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases • Annual companion certificate • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year • Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases • First checked bag free • Priority boarding • No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) • 20% back as a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases • Up to $120 Resy credit annually • Up to $120 Rideshare credit annually • Up to $200 Delta Stays credit annually • TakeOff 15 benefit for 15% fewer miles required when booking Delta award flights • Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. | $350 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | • 3x on Delta purchases • Complimentary Delta SkyClub® access when flying Delta or Delta marketed flights, plus up to 2 guests @ $50 each • Annual companion certificate • $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year • 1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made in the calendar year • Up to $240 Resy credit annually • Up to $120 Rideshare credit annually • Up to $200 Delta Stay credit annually • First checked bag free • Concierge service • Priority boarding • No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) • TakeOff 15 benefit for 15% fewer miles required when booking Delta award flights • Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. Reserve Card members get 15 Delta Sky Club® visits yearly. Spend $75,000+ on the card in a calendar year for unlimited visits - Learn more.) | $650 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card | Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/16/25. | • 3x on Delta purchases • 1.5x on purchases after spending $150,000 in a calendar year • Complimentary Delta SkyClub® access when flying Delta or Delta marketed flights, plus up to 2 guests @ $50 each • Annual companion certificate • $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year • 1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made in the calendar year • Up to $240 Resy credit annually • Up to $120 Rideshare credit annually • Up to $250 Delta Stay credit annually • First checked bag free • Concierge service • Priority boarding • No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) • TakeOff 15 benefit for 15% fewer miles required when booking Delta award flights • Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. Reserve Card members get 15 Delta Sky Club® visits yearly. Spend $75,000+ on the card in a calendar year for unlimited visits - Learn more.) | $650 (Rates & Fees) |
What Does It Cost To Add an Authorized User to a Delta Amex Card?
Most Delta Amex cards allow you to add authorized users for free. Unfortunately, the reason it is free to add an authorized user is that there aren't many perks available for authorized users in Delta's suite of cards.
However, there are two exceptions: Delta's highest-tier personal card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and the highest-tier business card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees).
Both cards charge an annual fee of $175 for each authorized user card. As you may have guessed, these cards charge a fee because they include benefits to justify it.
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Delta Reserve Authorized User Benefits
Here's a look at the Delta card benefits available to authorized users on Delta's two top-tier credit cards.
Airport lounge access
The Delta Reserve and Business Delta Reserve each feature the same headline benefit: Delta Sky Club access.
Both cards come with a hefty annual fee of $650 for primary card members. However, for $175, authorized users of the Delta Reserve cards are also granted entry to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges while traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight. Authorized users do not have to be accompanied by the primary card member.
Through January 31, 2025, these lounge visits were unlimited. However, effective February 1, 2025, Delta Reserve and Business Delta Reserve cardholders will be limited to 15 Sky Club visits per year. Each “visit” includes any lounges visited within a 24-hour period. Even though the lounge benefits will decrease this year, these cards can still provide excellent value for frequent Delta travelers.
For big spenders, there is a path to earning unlimited Sky Club visits. You must charge at least $75,000 to your card each calendar year. Luckily, this includes spending from both the primary and any additional cards. Once the spending requirement has been met, all card members — including authorized users — will receive unlimited visits to Sky Clubs.
Additionally, all Delta Reserve and Business Delta Reserve card members and authorized users can access the Amex Centurion Lounges when flying on Delta flights. These coveted lounges are well known for being a great place to relax in the airport, provided you don't have to wait too long to get in.
Earn Delta SkyMiles and Medallion elite status
All spending on authorized user cards earns Delta SkyMiles. However, all the earned miles go to the primary card member's SkyMiles account. While it may seem restrictive, this limitation can benefit families since Delta doesn't allow family members to pool miles. But if you want to earn your own SkyMiles as an authorized user, well, you're out of luck.
The rate at which you earn miles will be the same as that of the primary card member. For example, an authorized user on a Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card would earn 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 1X mile on all other eligible purchases, just like the primary account holder.
Alongside those with the Delta Reserve or Business Delta Reserve, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card also earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) on spending. The rate varies by card. However, as with all miles earned, the MQDs accumulated count towards only the account holder's elite status qualification.
In-flight purchase savings
One perk that extends to authorized users on all Delta SkyMiles cards is the 20% rebate on all in-flight food or beverage purchases — which is credited to your account as a statement credit. It's a small but useful benefit for all card members, especially on domestic flights when the only food option is a pricey snack box!
What Delta Card Benefits Aren’t Extended To Authorized Users?
The primary card member receives nearly all benefits for most Delta co-branded cards. There's not much for authorized users.
The Delta Reserve and Business Delta Reserve feature additional benefits that are only available to the primary cardholder — not authorized users. These include:
- Annual Delta Companion Certificate.
- Medallion Qualification Dollar Headstart — $2,500 MQDs annually.
- Earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases made during the calendar year.
- $240 worth of annual Resy credits (up to $20 back each month).
- $120 worth of annual rideshare statement credits (up to $10 back each month).
- Annual $200 Delta Stays credit.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights.
- Zone 5 priority boarding.
- Book with the Delta TakeOff 15 benefit.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
This long list of benefits are only available to the primary card member, but of course, their annual fee is significantly higher.
Bottom Line
If you want to help your authorized user boost their credit, you can add them to whichever Delta Amex card you have. However, there are not many premium benefits to be gained from adding an authorized user to most Delta co-branded cards. Virtually no benefits are awarded outside of Delta's two top-tier cards.
If you have a Delta Reserve or Business Delta Reserve and would like to give someone else access to Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges, you can do so by paying the annual authorized user fee of $175. It's a surprisingly affordable way to get into airport lounges!
But if your authorized user wants more perks, they're out of luck; they'll have to apply for either of Delta's premium rewards cards for themselves.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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